Eternal Optimism
On Thursday we discussed the book of Ecclesiastes and the word "pessimism" was thrown out, suggesting the author (traditionally Solomon) had a very dark view of the world.
I want to offer a slightly deeper definition of his world view. Rather then simple pessimism, he had a more long term view of the world. For example, let us pretend someone's goal in life is to buy a house. This hypothetical person is currently unable to afford a house. Tomorrow he will also be unable to affor a house. Thus he is very pessemisitic about his chances in the coming day. The next day it is the same, and the next, and the next.
If, however, he works at saving money, eventually he will have enough to afford a house, even though for so many days he did not. In the short term there is nothing, but in the long term one finds what one is looking for.
The Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes is much the same way, presenting everything as Vanity (see below), yet the book ends with a look to the future: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole of man." The author turns the work to the end of Gpd, rather than simple suggesting all existence is useless.
Vanity: This word is often translated "meaningless," particularly in newer translations. In Hebrew the word is "habel" (לבה), menaing vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness, something which is fleeting. It is the same root as Hebel (לבה), which is translated as Abel (you may note the Hebrew letters are the same in both words: Hebrew does not commonly print vowels. Each three letter set has a certain meaning, and the exact vowels placed in codifies the meaning, h-b-l means emptiness, ephemeral, and inserting vowels creates nouns, verbs, etc.).
I want to offer a slightly deeper definition of his world view. Rather then simple pessimism, he had a more long term view of the world. For example, let us pretend someone's goal in life is to buy a house. This hypothetical person is currently unable to afford a house. Tomorrow he will also be unable to affor a house. Thus he is very pessemisitic about his chances in the coming day. The next day it is the same, and the next, and the next.
If, however, he works at saving money, eventually he will have enough to afford a house, even though for so many days he did not. In the short term there is nothing, but in the long term one finds what one is looking for.
The Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes is much the same way, presenting everything as Vanity (see below), yet the book ends with a look to the future: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole of man." The author turns the work to the end of Gpd, rather than simple suggesting all existence is useless.
Vanity: This word is often translated "meaningless," particularly in newer translations. In Hebrew the word is "habel" (לבה), menaing vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness, something which is fleeting. It is the same root as Hebel (לבה), which is translated as Abel (you may note the Hebrew letters are the same in both words: Hebrew does not commonly print vowels. Each three letter set has a certain meaning, and the exact vowels placed in codifies the meaning, h-b-l means emptiness, ephemeral, and inserting vowels creates nouns, verbs, etc.).
posted by J.M.R. Burgard @ 8:13 AM
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